Dubravka Suica, European Commissioner for Democracy and Demography responded to the criticism that a citizen addressed to her and other senior officials of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), two major parties in Croatia, while speaking in a live talk show on a local TV station.

The man was criticising the luxurious lifestyle of the politicians, mentioning among others President Zoran Milanovic, former president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic as well as Commissioner Suica, HDZ’s senior member.

“She owns a yacht worth 500,000 Euros,” the man said, adding that she should pay at least 25,000 kuna (approx 3,300 Euro) a month for docking and other services. “Where does she get that money from,” he asked.

Soon after the man hung up the call, the show host received a call from Suica herself, who denied the allegations but also criticised the show host, Pasko Tomas, for letting the man speak.

“I am surprised indeed that you made no reaction,” she stressed. “You are very popular, a very popular journalist,” she said, expressing disappointment that the show host allowed such talk in his programme.

Asked to clarify which part of what the man said was not true, Suica said there are institutions of the state that know about it and asked Tomas if he needed a copy of her bank account.

In response to the criticism that he received, Tomas said he would not allow anyone especially politicians influencing his work.